Lawndale man charged with shooting girlfriend on Christmas Day

A 22-year-old man is facing charges in connection with a shooting on Christmas Day 2012 that critically wounded his girlfriend, police said.

Jesse Thomas, 22, of the 1800 block of South Karlov Avenue, was charged with attempted murder, aggravated domestic battery and aggravated battery, according to a statement from Chicago Police Department News Affairs. He was given a bail of $800,000 in court today.

Thomas is accused of shooting a 27-year-old woman, who police at the time said was his girlfriend. She was shot in the head and critically wounded during an argument about 9:35 p.m. Dec. 25 inside an apartment in the 1900 block of South Harding Avenue. She was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition at the time.

According to Asst. State's Atty. Christina Brewer, Thomas's victim had been his girlfriend for 2 years. After being shot in face, she was in the hospital in critical condition for a month and a half. A portion of her skull had to be removed because of brain swelling and she suffered a stroke and is partially paralyzed.

Several members of Thomas' family were in court but declined comment.

His attorney, Donna Rotunno, declined comment, saying it was too early to comment on the facts of the case.